Apparatus, systems and methods for control of media content event recording

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are operable to record a media content event at a media device. An exemplary embodiment grabs a series of subsequently received image frames from the media content event that is being recorded after a monitored real time reaches a closing credits monitor time, wherein the closing credits monitor time is a recording end time less a predefined duration. The embodiment then analyzes each of the image frames to identify an occurrence of text presented in the analyzed image frame, determines that the identified text corresponds to closing credits of the media content event if the at least one attribute of the identified text matches a corresponding predefined closing credits attribute, and initiates an end of the recording of the media content event in response to determining that the identified text corresponds to the closing credits of the media content event.

APPLICATION PRIORITY

This patent application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/972,896, filed May 7, 2018, issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,382,814 on Aug. 13, 2019, which is a Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/289,372, filed Oct. 10, 2016, issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,967,612 on May 8, 2018, and which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/854,321, filed Sep. 15, 2015, entitled“APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF MEDIA CONTENT EVENTRECORDING,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,465,996 on Oct. 11, 2016, thecontents of which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Media devices, such as a set top box, a computer system, or anotherelectronic device, are configured to receive media content events thatare broadcast by a media content provider over a broadcast typecommunication system. The media content provider concurrently broadcastsmany media content events to a plurality of media devices, typically inone or more media content streams that are communicated to the mediadevices over a media system sourced from a remote head end facilityoperated by the media content provider. Non-limiting examples of suchmedia systems include a satellite system, a cable system, a radiofrequency (RF) communication system, and the Internet.

Typically, the media content event is theme based. The thematic mediacontent event presents theme-based visual and audio content to a userfor their enjoyment and/or for informative purposes. Examples of suchtheme-based media content events include movies, films, serialprogramming, sporting events, documentaries, newscasts, religiousprograms, commercials (typically of short duration with advertisingcontent), or the like. Serial programming may present a continuing plotand/or theme, often with the same cast of actors, in a sequentialepisode-by-episode basis that is available periodically.

Users of a particular media device are able to identify the broadcasttimes and/or channels of particular media content events of interest byviewing an Electronic Program Guide (EPG). Typically, the EPG presentsinformation about the broadcast schedule of the media content events.The EPG, for any particular media content event, indicates a scheduledbroadcast start time, a scheduled broadcast end time, a channelidentifier that identifies the channel that is broadcasting the mediacontent event, and supplemental information describing the media contentevent (such as the title and/or other descriptive information).

In some situations, the user of the media device may configure theirmedia device to record a currently broadcasting media content eventand/or a media content event that is scheduled for future broadcast tothe media device. Here, the media device is configured to beginrecording (storing) at a recording start time and end recording at arecording end time. The recording end and start times are determinablefrom the EPG information which specifies the scheduled broadcast starttime and the scheduled broadcast end time for the selected media contentevent. In some media devices, the user may specify the recording end andstart times, and the broadcasting channel, to define a recording of aparticular media content event of interest.

As the selected media content event is being received at the mediadevice during its broadcast, the received media content event is storedinto a recording media in accordance with the recording requestinitiated by the user. That is, the media device determines therecording start time (which corresponds to the EPG information thatspecifies the scheduled broadcast start time) and the recording end time(which corresponds to the

EPG

information that specifies the scheduled broadcast end time). When therecording start time occurs (when the actual time reaches the recordingstart time), the media device tunes to the channel (identified in theEPG information) that is broadcasting the selected media content event,and then begins the process of recording the broadcasting media contentevent. When the recording end time is reached (when the actual timereaches the recording end time), the recording process ends.

Often, the user is not present to personally view the recorded mediacontent event as it is being received by the media device. Thus, theuser may later view the recorded media content event at theirconvenience.

In some instances, the recording end time does not match the actualbroadcast end time. If the actual broadcast end time extends beyond thescheduled broadcast end time, and thus extends beyond the recording endtime, then a concluding portion of the media content event will not berecorded by the media device. Often, such failures to record theconcluding portion of a media content event are very frustrating to theuser.

Various approaches to resolving the failure to record the concludingportion of the media content event have been devised. For example, somemedia devices are configured to automatically adjust the recording endtime by some predefined duration (amount of time). That is, the EPGspecified scheduled broadcast end time is identified, and then thepredefined duration is added thereto to define the recording end time,such as one or more minutes. Thus, it is very probable that the entiretyof the media content event will be recorded (along with some beginningportion of the next broadcasted media content event, which the user maysimply ignore).

Yet in some instances, the final concluding portion of the media contentevent may not be recorded in situations. For example, the actualbroadcast end time may extend beyond the adjusted recording end time,such as when a sporting event play time is extended by one or moreovertime play periods, or a broadcast is interrupted by a special newsevent report.

Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to further improve the processof recording media content events so as to ensure that the concludingportion of the media content event is reliably recorded.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods of recording a media content event at a media deviceare disclosed. An exemplary embodiment grabs a series of subsequentlyreceived image frames from the media content event that is beingrecorded after a monitored real time reaches a closing credits monitortime, wherein the closing credits monitor time is a recording end timeless a predefined duration. The embodiment then analyzes each of theimage frames to identify an occurrence of text presented in the analyzedimage frame, determines that the identified text corresponds to closingcredits of the media content event if the at least one attribute of theidentified text matches a corresponding predefined closing creditsattribute, and initiates an end of the recording of the media contentevent in response to determining that the identified text corresponds tothe closing credits of the media content event.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the following drawing:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an end of recordingmanagement system implemented in a media device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an end of recordingmanagement system 100 implemented in a media device 102, such as, butnot limited to, a set top box (STB). Embodiments of the end of recordingmanagement system 100 may be implemented in other media devices, suchas, but not limited to a digital video disc (DVD) player, a digitalvideo recorder (DVR), a personal device assistant (PDA), a game playingdevice, a personal computer (PC), a smart phone, a note pad, or anetbook that are configured to present and/or record a video-based mediacontent event that is received in a broadcasted media content stream104.

Embodiments of the end of recording management system 100 are configuredto monitor a concluding portion of a received media content event toidentify the end of the media content event based upon detection of theclosing credits of a currently recording media content event. Based onidentification of the closing credits in the video portion of the mediacontent event that occur near the end of the recording media contentevent, the process of ending the recording of the media content eventcan be initiated.

An example embodiment searches one or more image frames of theconcluding portion of the media content event for text associated withthe closing credits. Such text associated with the closing creditsportion of the media content event are appreciated by one skilled in thearts to be presented in a media content event at or very near itsending. Accordingly, the detection of the concluding portion of themedia content event enables the end of recording management system 100to determine when to end the current recording of the media contentevent.

For example, a non-limiting embodiment detects the closing creditsportion of the media content event using an optical characterrecognition process. Optionally, the recognized text is compared toassociated closing credit information retrieved from a database. In anexample embodiment, the media device 102 then continues to monitor foran ending of the closing credits portion, such as when the closingcredits are no longer presented (and thus are no longer detectable).Here, the conclusion of presentation of the closing credits isassociated with the end of the currently recording media content event.

Alternative embodiments determine the end of the currently recordingmedia content event in other manners described herein. For example,other embodiments may determine the end of the media content event basedon other image analysis techniques that identify one or more other imagefeatures that are associated with the ending of the currently recordingmedia content event. Some embodiments may determine the end of thecurrently recording media content event based on detection of multipleimage attributes and/or other features, such as expiration of a delayduration after detection of either the beginning or the end of theclosing credits.

The exemplary media device 102 is communicatively coupled to a mediapresentation system 106 that includes a visual display device 108, suchas a television (hereafter, generically a TV), and an audio presentationdevice 110, such as a surround sound receiver controlling an audioreproduction device (hereafter, generically, a speaker 112). Other typesof output devices may also be coupled to the media device 102, includingthose providing any sort of stimuli sensible by a human being, such astemperature, vibration and the like. The video portion of the mediacontent event is displayed on the display 114 and the audio portion ofthe media content event is reproduced as sounds by one or more speakers112. In some embodiments, the media device 102 and one or more of thecomponents of the media presentation system 106 may be integrated into asingle electronic device.

The non-limiting exemplary media device 102 comprises a media contentstream interface 116, a processor system 118, a memory 120, a programbuffer 122, an optional digital video recorder (DVR) 124, a presentationdevice interface 126, a remote interface 128, an optional system clock130, and an optional communication system interface 132. The memory 120comprises portions for storing the media device logic 134, the framegrabber logic 136, the recording information 138, the electronic programguide (EPG) information 140, the optical character recognition (OCR)logic 142, the optional closing credits database 144, and the end ofrecording processing logic 146. In some embodiments, the media devicelogic 134, the frame grabber logic 136, the optical characterrecognition logic 142, and/or the end of recording processing logic 146may be integrated together, and/or may be integrated with other logic.In some embodiments, the recording information 138, the electronicprogram guide (EPG) information 140, and/or the closing credits database144 may be implemented in other memory media and/or may be incorporatedwith other data. In other embodiments, some or all of these memory andother data manipulation functions may be provided by using a remoteserver or other electronic devices suitably connected via the Internetor otherwise to a client device. Other media devices may include some,or may omit some, of the above-described media processing components.Further, additional components not described herein may be included inalternative embodiments.

The functionality of the media device 102, here a set top box, is nowbroadly described. In a satellite broadcast system, a media contentprovider provides media content that is received in one or more multiplemedia content streams 104 multiplexed together in one or more transportchannels. The transport channels with the media content streams 104 arecommunicated to the media device 102 from a media system sourced from aremote head end facility (not shown) operated by the media contentprovider. The media device 102 is configured to receive one or morebroadcasted satellite signals detected by an antenna (not shown).Non-limiting examples of other media systems that broadcast a mediacontent stream 104 include a cable system, a radio frequency (RF)communication system, and the Internet.

The one or more media content streams 104 are received by the mediacontent stream interface 116. In a broadcast environment, one or moreoptional tuners 116 a in the media content stream interface 116selectively tune to one of the media content streams 104 in accordancewith instructions received from the processor system 118. The processorsystem 118, executing the media device logic 134 and based upon arequest for a particular media content event of interest specified by auser for current viewing or for recording, parses out media contentassociated with the media content event of interest. The media contentevent of interest is then assembled into a stream of video and/or audioinformation which may be stored by the program buffer 122 such that themedia content can be streamed out to components of the mediapresentation system 106, such as the visual display device 108 and/orthe audio presentation device 110, via the presentation device interface126. Alternatively, or additionally, the parsed out media content may besaved into the DVR 124 for later presentation, interchangeably referredto herein as “recording” of the media content event. The DVR 124 may bedirectly provided in, locally connected to, or remotely connected to,the media device 102. In alternative embodiments, the media contentstreams 104 may stored for later decompression, processing and/ordecryption.

From time to time, information populating the EPG information 140portion of the memory 120 is communicated to the media device 102, viathe media content stream 104 or via another suitable media. The EPGinformation 140 portion of the memory 120 stores the informationpertaining to the scheduled programming of media content events. Theinformation may include, but is not limited to, a scheduled broadcaststart time, a scheduled broadcast end time, a channel identifier thatidentifies the channel that is broadcasting the media content event, andsupplemental information describing the media content event. The mediacontent event's descriptive supplemental information may include thetitle of the media content event, names of performers or actors, date ofcreation, and a summary describing the nature of the media contentevent. Any suitable information may be included in the supplementalinformation. Upon receipt of a command from the user requestingpresentation of an EPG display, the information in the EPG information140 is retrieved, formatted, and then presented on the display 114 as anEPG, wherein the scheduled broadcast start and end times, the channelidentifier, and the supplemental information for currently presentingand future scheduled media content events are presented to the viewinguser.

The exemplary media device 102 is configured to receive commands from auser via a remote control 148. The remote control 148 includes one ormore controllers 150 disposed on the surface of the remote control 148.The user, by actuating one or more of the controllers 150, causes theremote control 148 to generate and transmit commands, via a wirelesssignal 152, to the media device 102. The commands control the mediadevice 102 and/or control the devices of media presentation system 106.The wireless signal 152 may be an infrared (IR) signal or a radiofrequency (RF) signal that is detectable by the remote interface 128. Insome embodiments, one or more of the controllers 150 are configured toactivate and deactivate (toggle) the end of recording management system100 between an operating state and a non-operating state. Thenon-operating state may be of interest to the user in varioussituations, such as back-to-back recordings of media content events thatare broadcast on different channels.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theprocessing of the received media content stream 104 and communication ofa presentable media content event to the components of the mediapresentation system 106 are generally implemented by the processorsystem 118 while executing the media device logic 134. Thus, the mediadevice 102 may perform a variety of functions related to the processingand presentation of one or more media content events received in themedia content stream 104.

Typically, a media content event presents theme-based visual and audiocontent to a user for their enjoyment and/or for informative purposes.Examples of such theme-based content includes movies, films, serialprogramming, sporting events, documentaries, newscasts, religiousprograms, commercials (typically of short duration with advertisingcontent), or the like. Serial programming may present a continuing plotand/or theme, often with the same cast of actors, in a sequentialepisode-by-episode basis that is available periodically. Advertisements,commercials or the like may be interspersed within the media contentevent.

In a broadcast environment, the media content event is broadcast to aplurality of media devices 102 as a stream of media content residing inthe media content stream 104. Typically, at any given instant in time,the media device 102 may be receiving one or more media content streams104 with hundreds of, or even thousands of, concurrently broadcaststreaming media content events. Typically, presentation of a mediacontent event occurs over some time span (duration). Thus, the mediacontent event has a beginning portion that usually includes identifyinginformation about the media content event, such as music, text of atitle, or other information. When the user views this beginning portionof the media content event, the user intuitively understands that theyare viewing the beginning of the media content event.

If the user is viewing a live broadcast of a particular media contentevent of interest, the media content event of interest is presented asit is being received by the media device 102. Accordingly, as the mediacontent event of interest is being initially broadcast, presentation ofthe media content event of interest to the user can begin at the actualbroadcast start time of the media content event of interest. The actualbroadcast start time is the time that the media content event ofinterest is received at the media device 102 (plus some relatively shortadditional amount of time required for processing of the media contentevent by the media device 102 and the components of the mediapresentation system 106).

As time progresses, the entirety of the streaming media content event ofinterest is presented to the user as the stream of media content isbeing received in the media content stream 104. At some point, the mediacontent event of interest comes to its end (conclusion). A viewing userintuitively understands that the media content event of interest isending upon viewing the closing credits portion of the media contentevent. Such closing credits portion of the media content event typicallyinclude the closing credits text, wherein the closing credits text isvisible to the user. Ultimately, after the closing credits have beenpresented, presentation of the media content event of interest ends.

When a media content event is viewed during its live broadcast, the endof the presentation of the media content event corresponds to the actualbroadcast end time. The actual broadcast end time is the time that thevery end of the media content event of interest is received at the mediadevice 102 (plus some relatively short additional amount of timerequired for processing of the end of the media content event by themedia device 102 and the components of the media presentation system106).

Typically, when the user is viewing a live broadcast of the mediacontent event, a next media content event begins immediately after theconclusion of the media content event of interest. Alternatively, one ormore commercials or the like may next be presented to the user prior tothe initial broadcast of the next live broadcast media content event.The beginning of the next program and/or any intervening commercialswill be discernible from the closing credits portion of the mediacontent event that is being recorded.

During operation of the media device 102 by the user, the media device102 is configured to generate and present an EPG on the display 114 tofacilitate informing the user of the particular media content eventsthat are currently available. The user, when viewing the EPG, is able toselect a currently received live broadcast media content event forpresentation.

The EPG is a type of a user interface that presents a menu, or a seriesof menus, that describe available media content events that areavailable for presentation. The EPG has the look and feel of a tablethat uses a combination of text and/or symbols to indicate the mediacontent event viewing choices that may be selected by the user. Themedia content event information presented on the EPG may include thetitle of available program, the “channel” of the available program, thescheduled broadcast start time, the scheduled broadcast end time, thedate of presentation, and optionally some amount of supplementalinformation (such as a brief description of the media content event).The EPG is interactive with the user. The user, by actuating one or moreof the controllers 150 on their remote control 148, is able to “scroll”or “navigate” about the EPG to select a program of interest.

The presented EPG indicates to the user media content events that arecurrently being broadcast. The EPG also indicates media content eventsthat are scheduled for future broadcast by the media content provider.Assuming that the actual broadcast times of media content events are onschedule, the scheduled broadcast start and end times indicated on theEPG correspond closely to, or may even be identical to, the actualbroadcast start and end times.

The user may be interested in viewing a particular media content eventthat is scheduled for presentation at a future time. For convenience,the user may specify to the media device 102 that that particular mediacontent event of interest should be recorded (saved into a memorymedium, such as the example DVR 124). The user typically is able tonavigate to and highlight (focus) onto a region of the presented EPGthat is indicating the media content event of interest that the user isinterested in recording. Then, the user may select a recordingcontroller 150 on the remote control 148 to thereby instruct the mediadevice 102 of their specification to record that particular mediacontent event of interest.

In response to receiving the user specification for a recording of aparticular media content event, the media device 102 accesses the EPGinformation 140 to retrieve the scheduled broadcast start time, thescheduled broadcast end time, and the channel that is providing thebroadcast of the specified media content event of interest. Thescheduled broadcast start time is used to define the recording starttime (these times are typically the same time, though some amount oftime may be optionally added to advance the recording start time aheadof the scheduled broadcast start time by some relatively smallpredefined duration). Similarly, the scheduled broadcast end time isused to define the recording end time (these times are typically thesame time, though some amount of time may be optionally added to delaythe recording end time behind of the scheduled broadcast end time bysome relatively small predefined duration). The recording start time,the recording end time, and the channel identifier are stored into therecording information 138 portion of memory 120. Additionally, a closingcredits monitor time may be determined and then may be saved by someembodiments of the end of recording management system 100. In someembodiments of the media device, the user may manually specify therecording start and end times, and the channel identifier.

The system clock 130 provides information corresponding to the currentreal time. The system clock 130 may be implemented as hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and firmware in the variousembodiments. The processor system 118, executing the media device logic134 in an example non-limiting embodiment, monitors the real timeprovided by the system clock 130. That is, the current real time iscompared with the stored recording start time.

When the real time reaches (matches) the recording start time, theprocessor system 118 operates the tuner 116 a to tune to the mediacontent stream 104 having the identified channel that is broadcastingthe specified media content event of interest that is to be recorded(based on the stored recording start time and channel identifier). Theprocessor system 118 then parses out the media content event of interestfrom the media content stream 104, and stores (records) the mediacontent event of interest into the DVR 124 (or into another suitablememory medium). The storing of the media content event of interestcontinues as it is being received in the media content stream 104.

The processor system 118 continues to monitor the real time provided bythe system clock 130. When the real time reaches the recording end time,embodiments of the end of recording management system 100 may end therecording process if the end of recording management system 100 is notactivated (inactive state, or in a non-operational mode).

However, if the end of recording management system 100 is activated(operating in an active state, or in an operational mode), at some pointin time prior to the recording end time, the video content of therecording media content event of interest is monitored to identify theclosing credits text 154. This period of monitoring before the recordingend time is defined as the closing credits monitoring period. The pointin time that embodiments of the end of recording management system 100begin to monitor the video content of the currently recording mediacontent event is defined as the closing credits monitor time.

The closing credits monitor time and/or duration is predefined based ontypical times that the closing credits portion of the media contentevent are likely to be shown. For example, the closing credits monitortime may be defined to be five minutes before the recording end time.Any suitable closing credits monitor time and/or duration may be used inthe various embodiments.

During the closing credits monitoring period, at some point in time, theinitial presentation of the closing credits text 154 is identified inthe video information of the recording media content event of interest.In response to identifying the occurrence of the presentation of theclosing credits, the end of recording management system 100 initiatesone of a variety of different processes to end the recording of themedia content event of interest.

One skilled in the art appreciates that monitoring video content fortext may be a computationally intensive activity. Accordingly,embodiments of the end of recording management system 100 use theclosing credits monitor time to initiate the analysis of the videocontent. For example, a selected media content event of interest may bean hour-long serial program that has a scheduled broadcast start time of8:00 p.m. and a scheduled broadcast end time of 9:00 p.m. When the mediadevice is configured to record that media content event, the recordingstart time is set to 8:00 p.m. and the recording end time is set for9:00 p.m. Thus, the closing credits monitor time might be defined to beat 8:55 p.m. Since the closing credits monitor period is a smallfraction of the total duration of a media content event, computationresources required of the processor system 118 can be significantlyreduced by monitoring the last few minutes of the media content event(as compared to monitoring for the closing credits text 154 over theentirety of the media content event).

Example embodiments are configured to access the recording end timeand/or the scheduled broadcast end time, and then subtract the closingcredits monitor duration there from to determine the closing creditsmonitor time. Accordingly, the closing credits monitor time is inadvance of the scheduled broadcast end time and/or the recording endtime by the predefined closing credits monitor time duration. That is,embodiments of the end of recording management system 100 start themonitoring process of the video content of the currently recording mediacontent event when the real time reaches the determined closing creditsmonitor time.

If in the above hypothetical example, there have been no programmingdelays, it is highly likely that the detecting of the closing creditstext 154 will occur at a time that is very near, but at least prior to,the scheduled 9:00 p.m. broadcast end time and/or the recording end time(and thus, be near the actual broadcast end time). Here, the recordingwill most likely include the concluding portion of the media contentevent of interest.

However, if there has been a delay in the broadcast of the concludingportion of the media content event of interest, the closing credits willnot be detected by the end of recording management system 100 (since theclosing credits will only be presented near the very end of the mediacontent event). For example, the media content event of interest may bea sporting event that runs beyond its scheduled broadcast end time dueto additional play during one or more overtime periods. As anotherexample, an intervening news break may have interrupted broadcast of themedia content event, thereby delaying the broadcast of the concludingportion of the media content event of interest. In such situations,recording of the media content event of interest continues beyond therecording end time because the closing credits text 154 is not yetdetected. At some point, the closing credits text 154 will be eventuallydetected by the end of recording management system 100. Since recordinghas not been stopped based on the previously defined scheduled broadcastend time and/or the previously defined recording end time, the endingportion of the currently recording media content event (interchangeablyreferred to herein as the “concluding portion” of the media contentevent) will have been recorded.

In practice, when the real time provided by the system clock 130 reachesthe determined closing credits monitor time, and if the end of recordingmanagement system 100 is in an active mode of operation, the processorsystem 118, executing the frame grabber logic 134, begins to seriallyaccess currently received image frames from the currently recordingmedia content event. In the various embodiments, the frame grabber logic134 may be executed as software, firmware, or a combination of softwareand firmware. Further, the frame grabber logic 134 may be stored inother memory media in some embodiments.

Once a particular image frame has been “grabbed” (accessed from theprocessed stream of image frames of the currently recording mediacontent event), the content of the image frame is analyzed to identifyany text that has been included in the analyzed image data. Any suitableimage processing technique may be used by the various embodiments toidentify portions of an image that may correspond to text. In thevarious embodiments, the end of recording processing logic 146, actingin cooperation with the OCR logic 142, then identifies any text in ananalyzed image. That is, the OCR logic 142 is then used to determineindividual characters and/or the words of any identified text. Anysuitable OCR logic 142 may be used in the various embodiments.

One skilled in the art appreciates that not all identified text in ananalyzed image frame may be text associated with closing credits. Forexample, the hypothetical illustrated image presented on the display 114in FIG. 1 illustrates a woman walking down a city street looking upwardsat a street sign 156 (with the text “Main Street”). Here, the text “MainStreet” is likely to be recognized when the image frame is analyzed.However, this identified text is not related to the text of anypresented closing credits. Accordingly, embodiments of the end ofrecording processing logic 146 are configured to discern identified textthat is not related to the closing credits from identified text of theclosing credits.

In the illustrative example of FIG. 1, when the process of monitoringimage frames begins (when the real time reaches the closing creditsmonitor time), the closing credits text 154 will most likely not haveyet been included in that first analyzed image frame. Since the end ofrecording management system 100 is able to identify the text “MainStreet” in the first analyzed image, and then determine that the text isnot text associated with the closing credits portion of the currentlyrecording media content event, the process of ending the recording ofthe media content event will not be yet initiated.

At some point in time, the currently recording media content event willapproach its ending, wherein the closing credits portion of the mediacontent event will begin such that the closing credits will be presentedon the display 114. At that time, or shortly thereafter, an image framewill be grabbed for analysis. The analysis will identify text that isbeing presented in that particular image frame. In the hypotheticalexample of FIG. 1, the text “Main Street” is likely to be identified,and the text “closing credits text” shown in the closing credits text154 region on the presented image is identified. Here, the identifiedtext “Main Street” will be discriminated from the identified text“closing credits text.” Further, the identified text “closing creditstext” will be recognized as being text in the closing credits portion ofthe media content event. Accordingly, embodiments of the end ofrecording management system 100 may then begin the process of ending therecording of the media content event (in response to identifying theoccurrence of the closing credits text 154 region on the presentedimage).

The text of the closing credits is known to have attributes that areunique to closing credits. Further, attributes of portions of the imagein close proximity to the identified closing credits text are known.Thus, embodiments of the end of recording management system 100 compareone or more attributes of any identified text, and/or attributes ofportions of the image in close proximity to the identified text, todetermine if the identified text is likely to be text of the closingcredits.

The determination of whether identified text are part of the closingcredits is based on a comparison of the attributes of the identifiedtext (and/or portions of the image in close proximity to the identifiedtext) with corresponding predefined attributes. These attributes thatare associated with the closing credits may be stored in the closingcredits database 144.

A first exemplary closing credits attribute is size of the characters ofthe identified text. Here, the text “Main Street” is relatively small,and the size of the “closing credits text” is relatively larger. Thus, asize attribute may be used to discern closing credits text from othertext identified in an analyzed image frame. A first size attribute maybe text character height and/or width. Accordingly, a comparison is madebetween the identified text attributes and the corresponding predefinedattributes. If the height and/or width of an identified text characteris at least equal to a predefined minimum text height and/or minimumwidth threshold, then the identified text character may be associatedwith the closing credits. If the size of the identified text characteris smaller than the minimum text height and/or width threshold, theidentified text character may be disregarded (not associated with theclosing credits).

Conversely, if the height and/or width of the text character is lessthan a predefined maximum text height and/or maximum width threshold,then the identified text character may be associated with the closingcredits. If the size of the identified text character is greater thanthe maximum text height and/or width threshold, the identified textcharacter may be disregarded (not associated with the closing credits).Any suitable predefined maximum and/or minimum character height and/orwidth may be used as a threshold value in the various embodiments.

A second exemplary closing credits attribute is the number of identifiedtext characters and/or words in a string of identified text. Forexample, the text “Main Street” only has two words (and nine textcharacters). In contrast, the “closing credits text” has three words andeighteen text characters. If the predefined number of words threshold isthree, the identified “closing credits text” may be associated with theclosing credits since three words are identified (since the number ofwords is at least equal to the threshold). Alternatively, oradditionally, if the predefined number of text characters threshold isfifteen characters, the identified “closing credits text” may beassociated with the closing credits since eighteen text characters areidentified. Any suitable predefined number of words and/or textcharacters may be used as a threshold value in the various embodiments.

Another exemplary closing credits attribute is the font type of the textcharacters of the identified text. Here, the “closing credits text” ispresented using a text font defined by capital letters, is italicized,is bolded, and is of an Arial font type. Thus, one or more text fontattributes may be used to discern closing credits text from other textidentified in an analyzed image frame. A comparison is made between theidentified text font attributes and the corresponding predefined textfont attributes. If the font of the text characters is the same as oneor more predefined text font characteristics, then the identified textmay be associated with the closing credits. Any suitable predefined textfont characteristic may be used as a threshold attribute in the variousembodiments

Another closing credits attribute pertains to portions of the image inclose proximity to the identified text. Typically, closing credits maybe presented over a solid colored background. That is, the backgroundpattern of a portion of the image in proximity to the identified texthas a solid background pattern. In the hypothetical example illustratedin FIG. 1, the “closing credits text” is presented on top of a solidwhite background. Accordingly, portions of the image in close proximityto identified text are evaluated to determine if the portions are of asolid color. For example, image portions between individual textcharacters may be evaluated. Alternatively, or additionally, imageportions above and/or below identified text characters by somepredefined distance of the identified text, or image portions that arewithin some predefined distance of the identified text, may beevaluated. These predefined distances from identified text may be usedto define a bounded region in some embodiments.

One skilled in the art understands that an image is comprised of amatrix of pixels. Different colors, intensities, or othercharacteristics of the pixels are varied to create an image. Here, theboundaries or extent of the identified text having commoncharacteristics (such as character size and/or color) is determined. Aregion bounding the identified text (surrounding the identified text)may be defined based on one or more predefined distances.

In a first example discrimination test, the pixels (image data) in thedetermined bounded region (that are not those pixels that are used topresent the identified text) are evaluated to determine if they are ofthe same, or substantially the same, color. If the pixels are of thesame or substantially same color, then a determination is made that theidentified text is being presented over a solid background. In contrast,portions of the image in close proximity to any random text identifiedin a filmed scene of the media content event is not likely to have thesame color. Therefore, a first indication that identified text may bepart of the closing credits is made when the portions of the image inclose proximity to the identified closing credits text have the samecolor. (Here, both the “closing credits text” and the text “Main Street”are presented on a solid grayscale background. So, this particularattribute may be, by itself, sufficient to determine that the “closingcredits text” is associated with the closing credits and to determinethat the text “Main Street” is not associated with the closing credits.)

A pixel color is typically defined based on a numerical value thatspecifies red, blue and green color components. Various pixel colorsdefinitions are stored in a color palette. In an example system, thecolor pallet defines 256 different colors using numerical values. In anembodiment that determines the numerical value of the color of thepixels in close proximity to the identified text, the determined pixelcolor values are compared to one or more predefined pixel color valuesstored in the closing credits database 144.

In a second example discrimination test, the determined color values forpixels in the portions of the image in close proximity to the identifiedtext are compared with predefined pixel color values stored in theclosing credits database 144. Typically, closing credits may bepresented on a which background, a black background, a blue background,or the like. Thus, the color values of these typically used backgroundsmay be determined and then stored in the closing credits database 144.In an analyzed image frame, if the identified pixel color values of thepixels in proximity to identified text match, or substantially match,with at least one of the predefined pixel color values retrieved fromthe closing credits database 144, then the text in proximity to thosepixels may be associated with the closing credits.

Another closing credits attribute pertaining to the color of theidentified text. Typically, the text of the closing credits may bepresented using a particular color and/or the same text color. In thehypothetical example illustrated in FIG. 1, the “closing credits text”is presented using a black text color. Further, all of the textcharacters are presented using a black color. Accordingly, the pixels ofthe identified text are evaluated to determine if the pixels are of apredefined color. For example, a predefined threshold color may be blackor another predefined color. Thus, in the hypothetical example of FIG.1, the “closing credits text” may then be determined to be associatedwith the closing credits. However, the text “Main Street” is alsopresented using black text. So, this particular attribute may not be, byitself, sufficient to determine that the “closing credits text” isassociated with the closing credits and to determine that the text “MainStreet” is not associated with the closing credits. Accordingly, variousembodiments may optionally employ a plurality of different imageattributes to determine if the closing credits are being presented in ananalyzed image frame. Any suitable predefined number of colors may beused as a threshold text pixel color value in the various embodiments.

A particular media content event will present its particular closingcredits using particular attributes. Based on the actual attributes usedto present a particular media content event, these attributes may becommunicated to the media device 102 and then may be stored into theclosing credits database 144. For example, the characters of the text ofthe closing credits may be known to be of a particular height and/orwidth, and/or of a particular color, and/or of a particular font type.As another example, the closing credits may be known to be presented ona solid background of a particular color. Thus, when the closing creditstext 154 is identified, the predetermined stored closing creditsattributes may be retrieved for that particular recording media contentevent. Then, attributes of identified text in an analyzed image framecan be compared with corresponding predefined closing credits attributesfor that particular media content event. If there is a match between oneor more of the determined closing credits attributes and a correspondingpredefined closing credits attribute, then a determination is made thatthe closing credits have been identified.

In an example embodiment, the identifier of a particular media contentevent and associated information specifying one or more predefinedclosing credits attributes are communicated to the media device. Thereceived predefined closing credits attributes and the associated mediacontent event identifier are saved into the closing credits database 144in the memory 120 or in another suitable memory medium. Attributespertaining to identified text, and/or of portions of the image inproximity to the identified text, are determined and then compared withthe predefined closing credits attributes retrieved from the closingcredits database 144. The predefined closing credits attributes areretrieved based on the identifier of the currently recording mediacontent event which is also found in the closing credits database 144.That is, a list of all media content event identifiers are searched inthe closing credits database 144 until a match is found with theidentifier of the currently recording media content event. Once thematching media content event identifier is found in the closing creditsdatabase 144, the associated predefined closing credits attributes areretrieved for comparison with any text attributes identified in ananalyzed image frame.

For example, the closing credits database 144 may have stored theidentifier of the example media content event that is being currentlyrecorded in the hypothetical example of FIG. 1, along with the followingpredefined closing credits attributes: a white colored solid background,a blue colored text font, a capital letter text format, a bold textfont, an italicized text font, and an Arial font style. When the“closing credits text” is identified in an analyzed image frame, thepredefined closing credits attributes may be retrieved from the closingcredits database 144 for that particular media content event. In thehypothetical example of FIG. 1, the identified “closing credits text” ispresented using all capital letters, is presented using a bold text fontand an italicized text font, is presented using an Arial font style, andis presented over a solid white colored background using a blue color.Thus, the closing credits attributes of the identified “closing creditstext” identified in an analyzed image frame matches the predefinedclosing credits attributes stored retrieved from the closing creditsdatabase 144. Therefore, the “closing credits text” may be determined tobe part of the closing credits for the currently recording media contentevent.

In contrast, the text “Main Street” is not presented using bold oritalicized font, and is not presented on a solid white coloredbackground. That is, the text “Main Street” does not match thepredefined closing credits attributes for that identified media contentevent (wherein the associated closing credits have been retrieved fromthe closing credits database 144). Accordingly, the text “Main Street”is not determined to be associated with the closing credits of thecurrently recording media content event.

The predefined closing credits attributes for a plurality of mediacontent events may be communicated to the media device 102 in a varietyof manners. An example embodiment communicates the predefined closingcredits attributes in the metadata of the media content event. Suchpredefined closing credits attribute information may be periodicallyrepeated in the metadata of the broadcasting media content event so thatwhen the media content event is recording, the media device accesses thepredefined closing credits attributes. Alternatively, the predefinedclosing credits attributes may be communicated in other portions of themedia content stream 104 and/or in other portions of the streaming mediacontent event itself.

Alternatively, or additionally, the predefined closing creditsattributes may be included in the EPG information that is periodicallycommunicated to the media device 102. The predefined closing creditsattributes may be optionally retrieved from the received EPG informationand saved into the closing credits database 144. Thus, when the userselects a particular media content event for recording, the predefinedclosing credits attributes may be retrieved from the EPG information 140and/or the closing credits database 144. The predefined closing creditsattributes may be retrieved when the recording start and end times aredetermined from the scheduled broadcast start and end times, and thensaved into the recording information 138 in some embodiments.Alternatively, or additionally, the predefined closing creditsattributes may be retrieved by some embodiments from the EPG information140 and/or the closing credits database 144 at the time of recording,during the recording, or in response to the current time of the systemclock 130 reaching the closing credits monitor time.

Other attributes of identified text may be considered by someembodiments. For example, closing credits typically scroll over thedisplay 114 in an upward or downward direction. Further, the textscrolling also typically occurs at a constant rate. For example, aseries of successive image frames may be periodically grabbed foranalysis by the end of recording management system 100. The separationduration between the periodically analyzed successive image frames isdetermined (for example, using image frame time stamps or image framePID information). Alternatively, successive image frames may be grabbedbased on some predefined duration, such as every second, every severalseconds, or every fraction of a second. Any suitable separation durationbetween grabbed image frames may be used in the various embodiments.

When a first one of the grabbed image frames is determined to have textthereon, a presentation location of the one or more characters and/orwords of the identified text (or a portion thereof) on the display 114is identified. Then, the location of the same text character and/or wordin a next analyzed grabbed image frame is determined. A change oflocation between the text character and/or word is determined, such thatthe distance of location change is determined. The distance change andthe duration between analyzed image frames are then used to compute arate of movement of the text (the rate of scrolling).

Alternatively, or additionally, the direction of the scrolling text maybe determinable. Once the location of identified text in successiveanalyzed image frames have been determined, a direction of movement ofthe text can be determined. That is, a determination can be made whetherthe text is scrolling in an upward direction or a downward direction.The known direction of scrolling of the closing credits text may bestored in the closing credits database 144 for the particular mediacontent event that is being recorded. If the scrolling direction of theidentified text matches the predefined scrolling, a determination ismade that the closing credits have been identified.

For reliability purposes, other subsequent image frames are similarlyanalyzed to ensure that the computed rate of movement and/or thedetermined direction of movement of the identified text character and/orword is consistent and/or constant (thereby distinguishing from randommovement of the identified text character and/or word that may resultfrom camera movement which occurred during the filming of the mediacontent event).

In some situations, a series of pages of closing credits are presentedusing a paging process, wherein the pages of closing credit informationare serially presented for some predefined duration on a periodic basis.For example, a new page of closing credits information may be presentedevery five seconds. Accordingly, an example embodiment may evaluate howany presented identified text is changing over time. If the identifiedtext is determined to be paging, the identified text may be determinedto be part of the closing credits. Otherwise, the identified text may bedisregarded.

Paging information of the closing credits for a particular media contentevent that is recording may be predetermined then stored in the closingcredits database 144. The paging information may include a rate ofpaging and/or a duration of presentation of a page of closing credits.The predefined paging information may be communicated in any suitablefashion, such as in the EPG information. Or the predefined paginginformation may be separately communicated. The predefined paginginformation may be accessed or retrieved and then compared with anyidentified text in a series of analyzed image frames.

Yet another closing credits attribute is the particular location and/orparticular region of an image in which the closing credits are presentedon the display 114. For example, the closing credits may be shown in thelower (or upper) half or quarter of the image when presented on thedisplay 114. The other region of the image presented on the display 114may be used for other purposes, such as presentation of anadvertisement, presentation of a trailer for the next scheduled mediacontent event, or the like. In such situations, the location informationof the presentation of the closing credits is known based on thepresentation plans of the media content provider. Accordingly,predefined presentation location information for the closing credits maybe communicated to the media device 102. The predefined presentationlocation information of the closing credits may then be retrieved andcompared with the determined location of the identified text in theanalyzed image frame. If the locations match, then the identified textmay be determined to be part of the closing credits.

In some embodiments, the closing credits typically containing one ormore generic keywords and/or generic keyword phrases that are commonlyused during presentation of the closing credits. Such commonly usedgeneric keywords and/or generic keyword phrases may be used as a closingcredits attribute. Example generic keywords include such words as, butnot limited to, director, actor, location, or the like. Generic keywordphrases may also be used in the closing credits, such as, but notlimited to, the phrase “directed by” or the like. Such keywords and/orkeyword phrases are not likely to randomly occur outside of thepresented closing credits. Thus, words and/or phrases of the textidentified in an analyzed image frame may be compared to generickeywords and/or generic keyword phrases, and if a match is determined,the closing credits may be identified by the end of recording managementsystem 100.

As another example, well known individuals participating in theproduction of the media content event may be identified in the closingcredits, such as, but not limited to, director names, producer names,actor names, or the like. For example, a generic-type listing of knownactors (which may include the names of hundreds, or even thousands ofactors) may be stored in the closing credits database 144. Thus,identified words and/or phrases identified in an analyzed image framemay be compared with the generic-type predefined keywords and/or keywordphrases stored in the closing credits database 144. When a match isfound between one or more identified words and/or phrases in an analyzedimage frame and corresponding actor name stored in the closing creditsdatabase 144, a determination is made that the closing credits have beenidentified.

In some embodiments, actual closing credits keywords and/or keywordphrases may be known for a particular media content event. For example,the actual closing credits may be known to have keywords and/or keywordphrases stating that the media content event was “Directed by JohnSmith” or the like. Or, the actress “Jane Doe” may be one of the knownperformers in the currently recording media content event. The identityof particular individuals uniquely associated with a known media contentevent may be stored in the closing credits database 144. When text isidentified in an analyzed frame, the words and/or phrases of theidentified text are compared with the known (predefined) individuals.(Here, the names of individuals is a type of closing credits attribute.)

Another example of a closing credits attribute may be an icon or thelike. For example, a particular production company that produces mediacontent events may have a notoriously well known icon, which is a symbolor the like that is associated with that particular production company.Often, the icon may be included as part of the closing credits of thecurrently recording media content event. The icon would not typically bepresented at other times during the ending portion of the media contentevent that is evaluated when the closing credits monitor period begins.Thus, if the icon is detected in an analyzed image frame, the closingcredits of the currently recording media content event may be identifiedby the end of recording management system 100. In an example embodiment,a plurality of known (predefined) icons are stored in the closingcredits text 154. Alternatively, when the particular actual icon isknown for the currently recording media content event, that particularicon may be compared with any identified icons found in an analyzedimage frame.

It is appreciated by one skilled in the art that the occurrence ofpresentation of the closing credits must be determined with a highdegree of accuracy and certainty. Otherwise, the recording of the mediacontent event may be unintentionally stopped before the ending of themedia content event. Accordingly, some embodiments are configured tocompare identified text in an analyze image frame with a plurality ofdifferent closing credits attributes. If all of the closing creditsattributes match the characteristics of the identified text, then theclosing credits of the currently recording media content event will havebeen accurately and reliably determined. In some embodiments, apredefined percentage match between the identified text and theplurality of closing credits attributes is required to determine thatthe closing credits are being present in the currently recording mediacontent event. For example, an 80% match between the identified text andthe plurality of closing credits attributes may be sufficient toconclude that the closing credits have been reliably identified. Anysuitable percentage match threshold may be used in the variousembodiments.

In some embodiments, the media device 102 may be optionally configuredto establish communications with a remote electronic device. In suchmedia device embodiments, the end of recording management system 100 maycause the media device 102 to establish a communication link 158, viathe communication network 160, to a remote closing credits database 162.The remote closing credits database 162 may reside in any suitableremote electronic device 164, such as, but not limited to, an internesite, a server, or the like. Then, one or more closing creditsattributes may be communicated to and received at the communicationsystem interface 132 of the media device 102. The closing creditsattributes received from the remote closing credits database 162 maythen be used and/or stored for comparison with text identified in ananalyzed image frame.

The predefined closing credits attributes may be retrieved from theremote closing credits database 162 at any suitable time. An exampleembodiment retrieves one or more of the predefined closing creditsattributes from the remote closing credits database 162 in response tothe user requesting a recording of a particular media content event. Inan example embodiment, the media device 102 may communicate a requestthat includes the identifier of the currently recording media contentevent (or the media content event scheduled for recording) to the remoteclosing credits database 162. The received media content eventidentifier is used by the remote closing credits database 162 toretrieve one or more stored predefined closing credits attributes, whichare then communicated back to the requesting media device 102. Therequest may be communicated by the media device 102 at any suitabletime, such as prior to the start of the recording of the media contentevent. Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 maycommunicate the request for the predefined closing credits attributeswhen the recording of the media content event begins or is underway.

The communication network 160 is illustrated as a generic communicationsystem. In one embodiment, the communication network 160 comprises acellular telephone system, such as a radio frequency (RF) wirelesssystem. Accordingly, the media device 102 includes a suitabletransceiver. Alternatively, the communication network 160 may be atelephony system, the Internet, a Wi-fi system, a microwavecommunication system, a fiber optics system, an intranet system, a localaccess network (LAN) system, an Ethernet system, a cable system, a radiofrequency system, a cellular system, an infrared system, a satellitesystem, or a hybrid system comprised of multiple types of communicationmedia. Additionally, embodiments of the media device 102 may beimplemented to communicate using other types of communicationtechnologies, such as but not limited to, digital subscriber loop (DSL),X.25, Internet Protocol (IP), Ethernet, Integrated Services DigitalNetwork (ISDN) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Also, embodimentsof the media device 102 may be configured to communicate overcombination systems having a plurality of segments which employdifferent formats for each segment that employ different technologies oneach segment.

In some embodiments, the media content event may be broadcast using anMoving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) format or similar media contentformat. Such media content formats comprise different image frame types,such as an I-frame (intra coded frame or slice), a P-frame (predictedframe of slice) and a B-frame bi-directional predicted frame or slice),that are compressible to different degrees. The I-frame is the leastcompressible image frame, but does not require other video image framesto decode. That is, an entire image may be determined from a singleI-frame. The P-frame may use data from previous I-frames to decompressand are more compressible than an I-frame. The B-frame can use bothprevious and forward frames for data reference to get the highest amountof data compression. Other compression techniques may be used tocompress the images of the media content event. As used herein, acomplete video image frame corresponds to a substantially complete setof data or information that may be used, by itself, to generate an imageof the media content event. If other compression formats are used, suchformats from time to time have a frame that corresponds to a completevideo image frame. In the various embodiments, after the closing creditsmonitor time wherein the concluding portion of the media content eventis evaluated to identify the closing credits, individual image framesare periodically grabbed for analysis. In a preferred embodiment, theI-frames or other image frames with complete data are grabbed foranalysis. However, other image frames may be analyzed in otherembodiments.

In response to identifying the closing credits in the currentlyrecording media content event, the process of ending the recording ofthe media content event may be initiated by embodiments of the end ofrecording management system 100. After the closing credits areidentified, a stop recording command is generated. In the variousembodiments, in response to the generation of the stop recordingcommand, the processor system 118 then stops the recording of thecurrently recording media content event in response to generation of thestop recording command. Any suitable command may be used to stop, halt,end or otherwise conclude the recording of the media content event

In some example embodiments, the recording of the media content event isstopped nearly immediately after determining the occurrence of theclosing credits. In such embodiments, when the occurrence of the closingcredits are detected, a stop recording command or the like isimmediately generated. Thus, the recording process ends nearlyimmediately in response to detecting the occurrence of the closingcredits.

In other embodiments, detection of the closing credits does notnecessarily immediately terminate the recording of the currentlyrecording media content event. Rather, the actual recording process endsat some later time. One skilled in the art appreciates that presentationof all of the closing credits requires some amount of time (which mayvary for different media content events). Thus, it is desirable to endthe recording process at some point in time after the initial detectionof the closing credits. That is, the recording process ends at somepoint after the conclusion of the closing credits portion of the mediacontent event.

In an example embodiment, a presentation time (or the actual time) ofthe initial detection of the closing credits is compared to the storedrecording end time. If the time of the initial detection of the closingcredits is in advance of the recording end time, the process ofrecording ends when the actual time provided by the system clock 130reaches the recording end time (which was previously stored in therecording information 138). That is, the recording of the media contentevent continues until the recording end time when the time that theidentified text corresponds to the closing credits occurs ahead of therecording end time.

However, if the actual time of the initial detection of the closingcredits is after the recording end time, the recording has continuedbeyond the originally defined recording end time as intended. That is,the concluding portion of the currently recording media content eventwill have been successfully recorded. Here, the process of ending therecording of the media content event is only initiated in response todetermining the occurrence of the closing credits.

In some situations, the process of ending the recording of the mediacontent event is initiated after expiration of some predefined durationafter the initial detection of the closing credits. For example, apredefined end recording duration of five minutes may be used to definewhen the recording process is initiated. Here, the recording processends five minutes after the initial detection of the closing credits (inresponse to generation of the stop recording command five minutes afterthe initial detection of the closing credits).

In some embodiments, the user may define an end recording duration. Forexample, a menu or the like may be presented to the user, who then isable to specify an amount of time for the end recording duration basedon their personal preferences. Alternatively, or additionally, the endrecording duration may be predefined at the media device 102 (such as bythe media content producer, media content provider or another entity).The end recording duration may be stored in the recording information138, the end of recording processing logic 146, another portion of thememory 120, or in another suitable memory medium.

Any suitable end recording duration, and any suitable timing process,may be used in the various embodiments. In an example embodiment, theend recording duration is added to the actual time of the initialdetection of the closing credits. This determined time is substitutedfor the recording end time. Alternatively, a countdown timer or the likethat tracks a period of time defined by the end recording duration maybe used to initiate the process of ending the recording of the mediacontent event. When the end recording duration has expired, the stoprecording command is generated.

In other embodiments, the process of ending the recording of the mediacontent event is initiated after the end of the detection of the closingcredits. Here, successive image frames are grabbed and analyzed toidentify the closing credits (which are constantly changing over time).At some point, presentation of the closing credits will have concluded.At that point, the closing credits will no longer be identifiable in anext analyzed image frame. Then, the process of ending the recording ofthe media content event is initiated (by generation of the stoprecording command).

Changes in monitored closing credits attributes may be used in someembodiments to identify the actual end or the media content event. Forexample, the background pattern and/or color may change in subsequentlyanalyzed image frames, thereby indicating that the end of the closingcredits have been presented. As another example, scrolling of text ofthe closing credits may stop. Thus, a change in the closing creditsattributes may indicate an end of the media content event such that theprocess of ending the recording of the media content event is initiated.

Other image characteristics may be evaluated to identify the end of themedia content event. In an example embodiment, content of a grabbedimage frame is analyzed to identify image characteristics of that imageframe. An absence or presence of, and/or the quantity of, a particulartype of image characteristic may be used to determine the end ofpresentation of the closing credits. Examples of image characteristicsthat may be analyzed include, but are not limited to, bit number, bitdepth, color palette, color balancing, and/or degree of noise reduction.Edge analysis and/or motion vector analysis may be performed on an imageto identify edge and/or motion vector characteristics of the objects inthe image. Here, a series of successive image frames are analyzed andcompared with each other. Any suitable image characteristic may beanalyzed to determine the end of presentation of the closing credits,which is understood to be the end of the media content event.

For example, the number of edges and/or motion vectors of a image framemay be determined. A scene having a large number of edges in one imageframe, or a large number of moving edges in a series of image frames,may tend to indicate a scene type with a relatively large amount ofactivity (a high activity frame). In contrast, closing credits are morelikely to have fewer moving edges and/or motion vectors. Accordingly, atransition from a relatively small number of edges and/or motion vectorstends to a large number of edges and/or motion vectors tends to indicatean end in presentation of the closing credits. In response to suchidentified transitions (a relatively large increase) in the number ofedges and/or motion vectors between successive analyzed image frames,the process of ending the recording of the media content event may thenbe initiated.

In some embodiments, a change in the audio portion of the receivedstream of media content may be used to identify the end of the currentlyrecorded media content event. For example, a particular song or the likemay be presented during presentation of the closing credits. When thesong ends, a period of silence, a different song, on entirely differentdialogue may be detectable, thereby indicating that the media contentevent has ended. Accordingly, the process of ending the recording of themedia content event is initiated.

However, many embodiments preferably do not analyze the audio portion ofa media content event. Often, the media content provider may continuepresentation of the end of the video portion of the currently recordedmedia content event in a small portion of the display 114 whileconcurrently presenting a video portion of an advertisement, a trailerfor the next scheduled media content event, or the like in the remainingportion of the display 114. Often, the audio portion of theadvertisement, trailer for the next scheduled media content event, orthe like is presented (while the audio portion of the currently recordedmedia content event is muted). Here, such analysis of the audio portionmay erroneously imply that the currently recorded media content eventhas ended.

In some situations, the closing credits are not detected by the end ofrecording management system 100. In such situations, the process ofending the recording of the media content event is initiated after somepredefined default duration. For example, the predefined defaultduration may be one hour. Thus, even if no closing credits are detected,the recording of the media content event ends. Such a default featuremay be user selectable and/or may be user defined.

In other situations, attributes of a next received media content eventmay be detectable. For example, a packet identifier (PID), or otherinformation in the metadata of the received stream of media content (thetitle, the supplemental descriptive information, or the like) mayindicate that a different media content event is currently beingreceived. Accordingly, the process of ending the recording process isinitiated when the next media content event becomes identified.

In some situations, back-to-back recordings of different media contentevents may be scheduled, wherein the different media content events areto be received on different channels. In media devices 102 that havemultiple tuners 116 a, the end of recording management system 100 may beoperational since different media content events may be recorded bydifferent tuners.

However, some media devices 102 have only a single tuner. Thus, if theclosing credits are detected after the recording end time, the beginningportion of the next media content event scheduled for recording will beomitted (since the single tuner 116 a is recording the end of thecurrently recording media content event). In such embodiments, the endof recording management system 100 may be deactivated when a conflict inback-to-back media content event recordings occurs. In otherembodiments, the user may be notified of the potential conflict, and theuser may opt to activate or deactivate the end of recording managementsystem 100.

Similarly, a requested number of recordings of different media contentevents may exceed the number of available tuners 116 a for recording.Further, one of the tuners 116 a may be used for presenting a mediacontent event to the user while the recordings are underway. In suchsituations, the end of recording management system 100 may beselectively deactivated for one or more of the recording media contentevents. For example, the last scheduled media content event may berecorded with the end of recording management system 100 deactivated forthat particular recording process. Or, the potential conflict inrecordings may be indicated to the user, who may then decide with of therecordings will have the end of recording management system 100 enabled.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the endof recording management system 100 are merely possible examples ofimplementations of the invention. Many variations and modifications maybe made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure and protected by the following claims.

1. A method that records media content events using a media device, themethod comprising: recording, by the media device, a media content eventthat is being received by the media device, wherein the broadcast of themedia content event is associated with at least a scheduled broadcaststart time defining when the broadcast of the media content is scheduledto begin and a scheduled broadcast end time defining when the broadcastof the media content event is scheduled to end; analyzing, by the mediadevice, a first image frame from the recording media content event toidentify text in the first image frame in response to detecting thattime has reached a predefined closing credits monitor time, wherein theclosing credits monitor time is prior to the scheduled broadcast endtime, and wherein a presentation time of the first image frame is priorto the scheduled broadcast end time; analyzing, by the media device, asecond image frame from the recording media content event to identifytext in the second image frame, wherein the text of the second imageframe is the same text of the first image frame, wherein the secondimage frame is subsequently recorded in the media content event afterthe first image frame has been recorded, and wherein a presentation timeof the second image frame is prior to the scheduled broadcast end time;identifying a first presentation location of the text of the first imageframe and a second presentation location of the text of the second imageframe; determining at least one of a direction of text movement and arate of text movement based on a difference between the secondpresentation location and the first presentation location of the text;comparing, by the media device, at least one of the determined directionof text movement with a corresponding predefined direction of textmovement of the closing credits and the rate of text movement with apredefined rate of text movement of the closing credits; determining, bythe media device, that the analyzed image frame includes closing creditsof the media content event when at least one of the determined directionof text movement matches the corresponding predefined direction of textmovement of the closing credits and the determined rate of text movementmatches the corresponding predefined rate of text movement of theclosing credits; and initiating an end of the recording of the mediacontent event in response to determining that at least one of thedetermined direction of text movement matches the predefined directionof text movement of the closing credits and the determined rate of textmovement matches the predefined rate of text movement of the closingcredits.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by themedia device, information defining at least one of the predefineddirection of text movement of the closing credits and the predefinedrate of text movement of the closing credits, wherein the informationdefining at least one of the predefined direction of text movement ofthe closing credits and the predefined rate of text movement of theclosing credits is received prior to analyzing the series ofsubsequently received image frames; storing the information defining atleast one of the predefined direction of text movement of the closingcredits and the predefined rate of text movement of the closing creditsin a memory medium of the media device; and retrieving the informationdefining at least one of the predefined direction of text movement ofthe closing credits and the predefined rate of text movement of theclosing credits from the memory medium of the media device to comparethe determined direction of text movement with the information definingthe predefined direction of text movement of the closing credits or tocompare the determined rate of text movement with the informationdefining the predefined rate of text movement of the closing credits. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the information defining at least one ofthe predefined direction of text movement of the closing credits and thepredefined rate of text movement of the closing credits is received inelectronic program guide (EPG) information.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein the memory medium of the media device is a first memory medium,and wherein the information defining at least one of the predefineddirection of text movement of the closing credits and the predefinedrate of text movement of the closing credits is stored in a remoteclosing credits database that resides in a second memory medium of aremote electronic device that is remote from the media device, themethod further comprising: communicating a request from the media deviceto the remote electronic device, wherein the request identifies therecording media content event; and receiving, at the media device, theinformation defining at least one of the predefined direction of textmovement of the closing credits and the rate of text movement from theremote electronic device in response to communicating the request,wherein the at least one of the predefined direction of text movement ofthe closing credits and the rate of text movement is retrieved from thesecond memory medium and is communicated from the remote electronicdevice to the media device.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein theinformation defining at least one of the predefined direction of textmovement of the closing credits and the predefined rate of text movementof the closing credits is included in a portion of the broadcastingmedia content event that is being received and recorded by the mediadevice, and wherein the portion with the information defining at leastone of the predefined direction of text movement of the closing creditsand the predefined rate of text movement of the closing credits isreceived at the media device prior to a start of the closing creditsmonitor time.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein both of direction oftext movement and the rate of text movement are compared to thepredefined direction of text movement of the closing credits and thepredefined rate of text movement of the closing credits, respectively,such that the analyzed image frame is determined to include the closingcredits of the recording media content event when both of the determineddirection of text movement matches the corresponding predefineddirection of text movement of the closing credits and the determinedrate of text movement matches the corresponding predefined rate of textmovement of the closing credits.
 7. A method that records media contentevents using a media device, the method comprising: recording, by themedia device, a media content event that is being received by the mediadevice, wherein the broadcast of the media content event is associatedwith at least a scheduled broadcast start time defining when thebroadcast of the media content is scheduled to begin and a scheduledbroadcast end time defining when the broadcast of the media contentevent is scheduled to end; analyzing subsequently received image framesfrom the media content event by the media device in response todetecting that time has reached a predefined closing credits monitortime, wherein the closing credits monitor time is prior to the scheduledbroadcast end time, and wherein for each of the analyzed image frames,the method further comprises: analyzing, by the media device, the imageframe to identify an occurrence of text in the analyzed image frame;analyzing, by the media device, the image frame to identify a backgroundcolor surrounding the identified text; comparing, by the media device,the background color surrounding the identified text with a predefinedbackground color of the closing credits of the media content event;determining, by the media device, that the analyzed image frame includesclosing credits of the media content event when the background colorsurrounding the identified text in the analyzed image frame matches thepredefined background color; and initiating an end of the recording ofthe media content event in response to determining that the identifiedbackground color surrounding the identified text matches to thepredefined background color of the closing credits of the recordingmedia content event.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:receiving, by the media device, information defining the predefinedbackground color, wherein the predefined background color is receivedprior to analyzing the series of subsequently received image frames;storing the predefined background color in a memory medium of the mediadevice; and retrieving the predefined background color from the memorymedium of the media device to compare the identified background colorsurrounding the identified text with the predefined background color. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the information defining the predefinedbackground color of the closing credits of the recording media contentevent is received in electronic program guide (EPG) information.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the memory medium of the media device is afirst memory medium, and wherein the information defining the predefinedbackground color of the closing credits of the recording media contentevent is stored in a remote closing credits database that resides in asecond memory medium of a remote electronic device that is remote fromthe media device, the method further comprising: communicating a requestfrom the media device to the remote electronic device, wherein therequest identifies the recording media content event; and receiving, atthe media device, the information defining the predefined backgroundcolor in response to communicating the request, wherein the predefinedbackground color is retrieved from the second memory medium and iscommunicated from the remote electronic device to the media device. 11.The method of claim 8, wherein the information defining the predefinedbackground color of the closing credits of the recording media contentevent is included in a portion of the broadcasting media content eventthat is being received and recorded by the media device, and wherein theinformation defining the predefined background color is received at themedia device prior to a start of the closing credits monitor time.
 12. Amethod that records media content events using a media device, themethod comprising: recording, by the media device, a media content eventthat is being received by the media device, wherein the broadcast of themedia content event is associated with at least a scheduled broadcaststart time defining when the broadcast of the media content is scheduledto begin and a scheduled broadcast end time defining when the broadcastof the media content event is scheduled to end; analyzing subsequentlyreceived image frames from the media content event by the media devicein response to detecting that time has reached a predefined closingcredits monitor time, wherein the closing credits monitor time is priorto the scheduled broadcast end time, and wherein for each of theanalyzed image frames, the method further comprises: analyzing, by themedia device, the image frame to identify an occurrence of text in theanalyzed image frame; analyzing, by the media device, the image frame toidentify a color of the identified text; comparing, by the media device,the color of the identified text with a predefined color of text of theclosing credits of the recording media content event; determining, bythe media device, that the analyzed image frame includes closing creditsof the media content event when the color of the identified text in theanalyzed image frame matches the predefined color of the text of theclosing credits of the recording media content event; and initiating anend of the recording of the media content event in response todetermining that the identified color of the identified text in theanalyzed image frame matches to the predefined color of the text of theclosing credits of the recording media content event.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: receiving, by the media device,information defining the predefined color of the text of the closingcredits of the recording media content event, wherein the informationdefining the predefined color of the text of the closing credits isreceived prior to analyzing the series of subsequently received imageframes; storing the information defining the predefined color of thetext of the closing credits in a memory medium of the media device; andretrieving the information defining the predefined color of the text ofthe closing credits from the memory medium of the media device tocompare the identified background color surrounding the characters ofthe identified text in the analyzed image frame with the predefinedbackground color.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the informationdefining the predefined color of the text of the closing credits of therecording media content event is received in electronic program guide(EPG) information.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the memory mediumof the media device is a first memory medium, and wherein theinformation defining the predefined color of the closing credits of therecording media content event is stored in a remote closing creditsdatabase that resides in a second memory medium of a remote electronicdevice that is remote from the media device, the method furthercomprising: communicating a request from the media device to the remoteelectronic device, wherein the request identifies the recording mediacontent event; and receiving, at the media device, the informationdefining the predefined color of the text of the closing credits inresponse to communicating the request, wherein the predefined color ofthe closing credits is retrieved from the second memory medium and iscommunicated from the remote electronic device to the media device. 16.The method of claim 13, wherein the information defining the predefinedcolor of the closing credits of the recording media content event isincluded in a portion of the broadcasting media content event that isbeing received and recorded by the media device, and wherein theinformation defining the predefined color of the text of the closingcredits is received at the media device prior to a start of the closingcredits monitor time.